"The Way" Does Not Exist (Nietzsche)

This – is now my way – where is yours? Thus did I answer those who asked me “the way.” For the way – it does not exist!

~Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Many people seek spiritual masters or look to religious systems or philosophies for answers to "The Way". What is "The Way" to live?

Nietzsche says here that there is no "way". Everyone must determine the way for himself.  

This is, of course, in stark contrast to a certain religious doctrine in our society which says that "the only way is through Jesus Christ."

I am tempted to think that if a person doesn't spend a good deal of time in reflection of his life, then the Jesus philosophy is certainly better than none at all. Unfortunately, though there may be 2 billion people on the planet who call themselves Christians, I suspect there there may have only been a dozen people since the time of Christ who have actually wholeheartedly endeavored to actually live the way recommended by him. 

Philosophy is often scoffed at by the average person as a waste of time, or something that has no effect or relation to our everyday lives. On the contrary, I think that philosophy is a subject that everybody should be intimately aware of and familiar with. 

Whether we know it or not, we all live some philosophy on a day to day basis. What is called custom is actually a philosophy that someone thought up many years ago. What you accept as common sense is merely what was taught to you by your family and society. The world right now is living in a certain way, but that doesn't mean it is the way that the world must be. 

I think an earlier sentence there is important and worth repeating, so I'll end with that: 

We all live a philosophy, whether we know it or not. So which philosophy are you living, and why did you choose that particular one?

What Next?
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